Equal Justice Works is located in Washington, DC. The organization was established in 1986. According to its NTEE Classification (I11) the organization is classified as: Single Organization Support, under the broad grouping of Crime & Legal-Related and related organizations. As of 08/2023, Equal Justice Works employed 32 individuals. This organization is an independent organization and not affiliated with a larger national or regional group of organizations. Equal Justice Works is a 501(c)(3) and as such, is described as a "Charitable or Religous organization or a private foundation" by the IRS.
For the year ending 08/2023, Equal Justice Works generated $21.2m in total revenue. This represents relatively stable growth, over the past 8 years the organization has increased revenue by an average of 3.5% each year. All expenses for the organization totaled $22.7m during the year ending 08/2023. While expenses have increased by 4.0% per year over the past 8 years. They've been increasing with an increasing level of total revenue. You can explore the organizations financials more deeply in the financial statements section below.
Since 2015, Equal Justice Works has awarded 1,523 individual grants totaling $83,724,986. If you would like to learn more about the grant giving history of this organization, scroll down to the grant profile section of this page.
Form
990
Mission & Program ActivityExcerpts From the 990 Filing
TAX YEAR
2023
Describe the Organization's Mission:
Part 3 - Line 1
MOBILIZING PASSIONATE PUBLIC SERVICE LEADERS.
Describe the Organization's Program Activity:
Part 3 - Line 4a
LEGAL FELLOWSHIPS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST:EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS DIRECTS THE LARGEST POSTGRADUATE LEGAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM IN THE NATION, PLACING LAWYERS IN TWO-YEAR ASSIGNMENTS AT LEGAL SERVICES ORGANIZATIONS. THE EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM CREATES PARTNERSHIPS WITH THESE HOST ORGANIZATIONS, PUBLIC INTEREST LAWYERS, LAW FIRM AND CORPORATE SPONSORS, AND OTHER DONORS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO THE JUSTICE SYSTEM FOR UNDERREPRESENTED POPULATIONS.THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS TWO STRUCTURES OF FELLOWSHIPS: ONE IN WHICH THE FELLOW DESIGNS THEIR OWN PROJECT ALONGSIDE A HOST ORGANIZATION (LEGAL SERVICE ORGANIZATION) AND ONE IN WHICH FELLOWS APPLY AND JOIN A PROGRAM DESIGNED AND DIRECTED BY EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS AND FOCUSED ON A PARTICULAR ISSUE.ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-ONE (161) EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS FELLOWS DESIGNED AND IMPLEMENTED INNOVATIVE LEGAL SERVICE PROJECTS, WORKING AT 142 HOST ORGANIZATIONS IN 78 CITIES ACROSS 31 STATES/TERRITORIES TO ADDRESS A WIDE RANGE OF LEGAL ISSUES, INCLUDING VETERANS' BENEFITS, RACIAL JUSTICE, ACCESS TO EDUCATION, IMMIGRATION AND ASYLUM, COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND VOTING RIGHTS.NINETY-THREE (93) EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS FELLOWS PARTICIPATED IN FOUR UNIQUE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON CIVIL LEGAL ISSUES AFFECTING UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES INCLUDING CRIME VICTIMS, ELDER CRIME VICTIMS, DISASTER SURVIVORS, AND THOSE FACING HOUSING INSTABILITY. THESE FELLOWS WORKED AT 69 LEGAL SERVICES PROVIDERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THESE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS AIM TO SERVE INDIVIDUALS WHILE ALSO CREATING BROADER IMPACT THROUGH CAPACITY BUILDING. AS ONE EXAMPLE, THE ELDER JUSTICE PROGRAM HELPED PROVIDE TRAUMA INFORMED CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF ELDER ABUSE. TWENTY-TWO (22) FELLOWS DELIVERED CRITICAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, PARTICULARLY IN RURAL AREAS. THE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM SUCCESSFULLY INCREASED THE CAPACITY OF THE VICTIM SERVICES FIELD TO ADDRESS ELDER ABUSE BY DEVELOPING A PIPELINE OF LAWYERS COMMITTED TO HELPING OLDER ADULT CRIME VICTIMS. OVER THE FELLOWSHIP PERIOD, THE FELLOWS PROVIDED LEGAL HELP TO 2,087 OLDER ADULT SURVIVORS AND CONDUCTED 185 TRAININGS FOR 7,928 INDIVIDUALS.
LAW SCHOOL ENGAGEMENT AND ADVOCACY:EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS ALSO OFFERS PROGRAMS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF LAW STUDENTS AND LAWYERS DEDICATING ALL OR PART OF THEIR CAREERS TO PUBLIC SERVICE BY ENGAGING AND COLLABORATING WITH LAW SCHOOLS, STUDENTS, AND ATTORNEYS. EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS MAINTAINS A ROBUST LAW SCHOOL MEMBERSHIP, WHICH INCLUDES OVER 90% OF ABA-ACCREDITED LAW SCHOOLS, AND HELPS ENSURE THOSE MEMBERS KNOW OF AND PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAMS OFFERED BY EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS, INCLUDING FELLOWSHIPS DESCRIBED ABOVE AS WELL AS THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMMING FOR LAW STUDENTS. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES SHORT-TERM SUMMER STUDENT FELLOWSHIPS PROGRAMS. THE RURAL SUMMER LEGAL CORPS (RSLC) PROGRAM IS A JOINT PARTNERSHIP OF THE LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION (LSC) AND EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS. THE RSLC PROGRAM CONNECTS PUBLIC INTEREST LAW STUDENTS WITH CIVIL LEGAL AID ORGANIZATIONS TO ADDRESS PRESSING LEGAL ISSUES FACING RURAL COMMUNITIES. DESPITE THE CHALLENGES PRESENTED BY THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC, THE 2022 RSLC PROGRAM PROVIDED 40 STUDENTS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE RURAL COMMUNITIES ACROSS 28 STATES. STUDENT FELLOWS IN THE 2022 CLASS COLLECTIVELY SERVED 3,999 INDIVIDUALS, ASSISTED IN 891 LEGAL CASES, AND HELPED ACHIEVE 328 POSITIVE OUTCOMES FOR THEIR CLIENTS. THE DISASTER RESILIENCE PROGRAM PLACES LAW STUDENTS AT LEGAL SERVICES ORGANIZATIONS WHERE THEY GAIN EXPOSURE TO LEGAL DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND RECOVERY WORK. IN 2022, 8 LAW STUDENTS SPENT EIGHT TO TEN WEEKS WORKING ALONGSIDE EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS FELLOWS IN THE DISASTER RESILIENCE PROGRAM, HELPING TO PROVIDE LEGAL AID, ENGAGE IN COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND EDUCATION IN DISASTER RESILIENCE. DURING THEIR SUMMER OF SERVICE, STUDENT FELLOWS IN THE DISASTER RESILIENCE PROGRAM COLLECTIVELY CONTRIBUTED 2,400 SERVICE AND TRAINING HOURS THAT INCLUDED 465 HOURS ON RESEARCH AND DEVELOPING RESOURCES, OVER 578 HOURS ON CLIENT CASES, CLIENT INTAKE, AND LEGAL CLINICS AND WORKED ON OVER 60 CLIENT CASES TOTAL. THE EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS CAREER FAIR IS THE LARGEST NATIONAL PUBLIC INTEREST LEGAL CAREER FAIR, BRINGING TOGETHER MORE THAN 240 PUBLIC INTEREST EMPLOYERS TO CONDUCT INTERVIEWS FOR FULL-TIME POSITIONS AND INTERNSHIPS. MORE THAN 3,000 LAW STUDENTS FROM 157 LAW SCHOOLS ATTENDED THE 2022 EVENT. EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS IS COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT NO LAW STUDENT OR LAWYER IS DETERRED FROM A PUBLIC INTEREST LEGAL CAREER BY THE BURDEN OF STUDENT DEBT. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION TO SYNTHESIZE AND SIMPLIFY THE COMPLEX ARRAY OF REPAYMENT PLANS, FINANCING OPTIONS AND LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO ASPIRING AND CURRENT PUBLIC INTEREST LAWYERS THROUGH OUR STUDENT ADVOCACY, IN PERSON PRESENTATIONS, AND WEBINARS. IN ADDITION, EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS LEADS THE PSLF COALITION WHICH CONSISTS OF OVER 90 ORGANIZATIONS COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS (PSLF). WE BELIEVE IT IS OF VITAL IMPORTANCE FOR THE WELLBEING OF COMMUNITIES ACROSS OUR COUNTRY. PSLF ALLOWS PUBLIC SERVICE PROFESSIONALS TO PURSUE THEIR PASSION FOR SERVICE PROFESSIONALLY EVEN IF THEY HAVE STUDENT DEBT. THE ORGANIZATION IS ASSISTED BY A NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE, A 16-PERSON GROUP OF LAW STUDENTS AND PROFESSIONALS FROM MEMBER SCHOOLS THAT PROVIDES GUIDANCE AND FEEDBACK ON EXPANDING PUBLIC INTEREST OPPORTUNITIES FOR LAW STUDENTS AND LAWYERS. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO SUPPORTS STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES, A GROUP OF 55 STUDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, TO SERVE AS AMBASSADORS FOR EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS ON THEIR LAW SCHOOL CAMPUSES.
Name (title) | Role | Hours | Compensation |
---|---|---|---|
Kathryn J Fritz Chair | OfficerTrustee | 1 | $0 |
Frank R Jimenez Vice Chair | OfficerTrustee | 1 | $0 |
Jonathan Chiel Treasurer As Of 01/23 | OfficerTrustee | 1 | $0 |
Sharon Ryan Treasurer Until 12/22 | OfficerTrustee | 1 | $0 |
Jami Mckeon Secretary | OfficerTrustee | 1 | $0 |
Brackett B Denniston III Member | Trustee | 1 | $0 |
Vendor Name (Service) | Service Year | Compensation |
---|---|---|
Marcum Llp Accounting & Human Resources Services | 8/30/23 | $852,897 |
Linder & Associates Inc Event Management | 8/30/23 | $265,165 |
The Raben Group Consulting | 8/30/23 | $216,000 |
Orr Group Consulting | 8/30/23 | $329,469 |
Berlin Rosen Consulting | 8/30/23 | $203,410 |
Statement of Revenue | |
---|---|
Federated campaigns | $0 |
Membership dues | $501,500 |
Fundraising events | $0 |
Related organizations | $0 |
Government grants | $962,251 |
All other contributions, gifts, grants, and similar amounts not included above | $19,140,648 |
Noncash contributions included in lines 1a–1f | $11,564 |
Total Revenue from Contributions, Gifts, Grants & Similar | $20,604,399 |
Total Program Service Revenue | $154,983 |
Investment income | $340,132 |
Tax Exempt Bond Proceeds | $0 |
Royalties | $0 |
Net Rental Income | $0 |
Net Gain/Loss on Asset Sales | $59,989 |
Net Income from Fundraising Events | $0 |
Net Income from Gaming Activities | $0 |
Net Income from Sales of Inventory | $0 |
Miscellaneous Revenue | $0 |
Total Revenue | $21,173,089 |
Statement of Expenses | |
---|---|
Grants and other assistance to domestic organizations and domestic governments. | $11,039,826 |
Grants and other assistance to domestic individuals. | $100,881 |
Grants and other assistance to Foreign Orgs/Individuals | $0 |
Benefits paid to or for members | $0 |
Compensation of current officers, directors, key employees. | $604,510 |
Compensation of current officers, directors, key employees. | $564,040 |
Compensation to disqualified persons | $0 |
Other salaries and wages | $4,576,122 |
Pension plan accruals and contributions | $244,357 |
Other employee benefits | $978,199 |
Payroll taxes | $408,314 |
Fees for services: Management | $0 |
Fees for services: Legal | $3,442 |
Fees for services: Accounting | $636,839 |
Fees for services: Lobbying | $58,000 |
Fees for services: Fundraising | $45,569 |
Fees for services: Investment Management | $55,052 |
Fees for services: Other | $1,065,348 |
Advertising and promotion | $15,191 |
Office expenses | $154,311 |
Information technology | $509,793 |
Royalties | $0 |
Occupancy | $563,744 |
Travel | $331,877 |
Payments of travel or entertainment expenses for any federal, state, or local public officials | $0 |
Conferences, conventions, and meetings | $918,040 |
Interest | $0 |
Payments to affiliates | $0 |
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization | $127,285 |
Insurance | $45,294 |
All other expenses | $0 |
Total functional expenses | $22,713,463 |
Balance Sheet | |
---|---|
Cash—non-interest-bearing | $5,061,100 |
Savings and temporary cash investments | $578,716 |
Pledges and grants receivable | $12,447,739 |
Accounts receivable, net | $0 |
Loans from Officers, Directors, or Controlling Persons | $0 |
Loans from Disqualified Persons | $0 |
Notes and loans receivable | $0 |
Inventories for sale or use | $0 |
Prepaid expenses and deferred charges | $746,105 |
Net Land, buildings, and equipment | $386,289 |
Investments—publicly traded securities | $16,677,767 |
Investments—other securities | $0 |
Investments—program-related | $0 |
Intangible assets | $0 |
Other assets | $5,585,415 |
Total assets | $41,483,131 |
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | $1,261,483 |
Grants payable | $0 |
Deferred revenue | $1,760,761 |
Tax-exempt bond liabilities | $0 |
Escrow or custodial account liability | $0 |
Loans and other payables to any current Officer, Director, or Controlling Person | $0 |
Secured mortgages and notes payable | $0 |
Unsecured mortgages and notes payable | $0 |
Other liabilities | $6,107,681 |
Total liabilities | $9,129,925 |
Net assets without donor restrictions | $6,301,616 |
Net assets with donor restrictions | $26,051,590 |
Capital stock or trust principal, or current funds | $0 |
Paid-in or capital surplus, or land, building, or equipment fund | $0 |
Retained earnings, endowment, accumulated income, or other funds | $0 |
Total liabilities and net assets/fund balances | $41,483,131 |
Over the last fiscal year, Equal Justice Works has awarded $11,018,765 in support to 175 organizations.
Grant Recipient | Amount |
---|---|
ACLU FOUNDATION OF TEXAS PURPOSE: FELLOWSHIP SUPPORT | $50,000 |
ACLU OF KENTUCKY PURPOSE: FELLOWSHIP SUPPORT | $57,100 |
ACLU OF SOUTH CAROLINA FOUNDATION INC PURPOSE: FELLOWSHIP SUPPORT | $50,000 |
ACLU OF WISCONSIN PURPOSE: FELLOWSHIP SUPPORT | $7,000 |
ACLU OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PURPOSE: FELLOWSHIP SUPPORT | $114,000 |
ALASKA LEGAL SERVICES PURPOSE: FELLOWSHIP SUPPORT | $221,100 |